Summary
LocalThunk, the solo developer behind the award-winning poker roguelike card gameBalatro, joked about needing a sturdier shelf after multiple wins at The Game Awards 2024. The ceremony took place on December 12 and celebrated the wealth of incredible games that have been released over the past year,Balatroincluded. The 10th-anniversary edition of the show was also home to a number of massive game reveals, such as CD Projekt Red’sThe Witcher 4, an unexpected 2025 release window for Xbox’sThe Outer Worlds 2, and a cinematic trailer for Naughty Dog’s new 80s sci-fi-inspired IP,Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.
Balatrotook the gaming world by storm when it was released in early 2024. The game’s addictive nature, paired with its mobile release and continual updates and crossovers with other popular games such asThe Witcher 3, Among Us,Vampire Survivors,and most recentlyshowing up in aCyberpunk 2077side quest,keptBalatroalive in the zeitgeist all year long. Because of this,Balatrobecame an unlikely frontrunner for Game of the Year at The Game Awards, alongside games likeMetaphor: ReFantazio,Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth, andBlack Myth: Wukong.
Nominated for an impressive five awards atGeoff Keighley’s 10th annual Game Awards, including Game of the Year,Balatrowalked away with three of them. Although it lost the big prize to Sony’sAstro Bot,Balatrowon Best Mobile Game, Debut Indie Game, as well as Best Independent Game. The game’s solo creator took to Twitter to celebrate their three wins, joking about needing a new shelf to display all their shiny new Game Awards trophies.
Balatro Developer Celebrates Three Game Awards Wins on Twitter
While the 2024 Game Awards are over, there are still several big gaming award shows coming soon, such as the DICE Awards and the Game Developers Choice Awards. In addition, several major gaming publications still have yet to name their 2024 Game of the Year, soBalatrodoes still have a chance to scoop up one of these massive awards despitelosing the big one toAstro Botlast night. Even if it doesn’t,Balatrostill seems destined to win a flurry of other awards at some of these shows as they unfold over the coming weeks and months.
LocalThunk is still churning outfun updates and collaborations forBalatro,and they don’t seem to have any intention of slowing down in 2025.Balatro’s most recent Friends of Jimbo collab pack introduced card sets based on games likeCult of the Lamb,Warframe,Shovel Knight,and more. What LocalThunk has in store forBalatroin 2025 is anybody’s guess.
Balatro
WHERE TO PLAY
Balatro is a poker-inspired roguelike deck builder all about creating powerful synergies and winning big.The poker roguelike. Balatro is a hypnotically satisfying deckbuilder where you play illegal poker hands, discover game-changing jokers, and trigger adrenaline-pumping, outrageous combos.Combine valid poker hands with unique Joker cards in order to create varied synergies and builds. Earn enough chips to beat devious blinds, all while uncovering hidden bonus hands and decks as you progress. You’re going to need every edge you’re able to get in order to reach the boss blind, beat the final ante and secure victory
